by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
At the semi-final stage he beat both Ziad Wael (11-6, 11-5, 11-8) and Abdelrahaman Dendan (11-8, 11-6, 5-11, 12-10), as a three matches to one success was recorded in opposition Egypt ‘B’; the one further success for the victors was secured by Artur Abusev, in the second match of the fixture he beat Abdelrahman Dendan (11-4, 11-5, 11-8).
Outstanding in the penultimate round, it was the same in the final. Against Romania, the second seeds, he accounted for Rares Sipos in the second match of the engagement (9-11, 11-4, 14-12, 11-7) and in the vital fifth and deciding match, Mihai Zamfir (7-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-6) to secure the victory.
The one further win for the champions elect was gained by Artur Abusev; in the opening match of the engagement, he had given his team the ideal start by overcoming Mihai Zamfir (11-7, 11-8, 11-7). The wins for Romania came in the third and fourth matches as a recovery was mounted; Florin Spelbus beat Jens Holmqvist (11-7, 11-7, 11-6), before Rares Sipos levelled matters by overcoming Artur Abusev (11-6, 12-10, 11-8).
Defeat at the final hurdle in a full distance duel for Romania; against Egypt ‘A’, in the penultimate round, represented by Youssef Abdel-Aziz, Ahmed El-Borhamy and Karim El-Hakem, the third seeds, it had been the reverse scenario. A three-two win was the order of the day.
Thorn in the side of the Romanians was Youssef Abdel-Aziz; he beat both Florin Spelbus (13-15, 11-1, 11-7, 11-2) and Rares Sipos (11-4, 11-9, 10-12, 11-9) but that was to be his team’s only success. Karim El-Haken was beaten by both Rares Sipos (11-4, 11-8, 11-7) and in the vital concluding match of the engagement by Florin Spelbus (11-9, 12-10, 13-11). The one further win for the Romanians was achieved in the third match of the fixture when Mihai Zamfir crucially overcame Ahmed El-Borhamy (8-11, 11-5, 18-16, 11-9).
Matters in the Junior Boys’ Team event at an end, the focus of attention now turns the Junior Boys’ Singles competition.
